not having A Time of Finding Thirdly 3. Because they are his friends and servants Because they are the Lords People his Iewels Servants Children and Friends t Psa 119.125 I am thy Servant saith holy David give ME understanding If another mans Childe or Servant should ask something of you you might in all reason especially if Enemies bid them go to their own Father and Master why do they come to you It is very true such as as are the servants of Antichrist and do serve the base lusts of Tyrants yea and are Tyrants themselves The Lord may justly say unto them when they Call upon him as the Prophet did to the King of Israel u 2 Kin. 3.13 What have I to do with thee Get thee to the Prophets of thy Father and to the Prophets of thy Mother So may the Lord say to REVOLTERS Why come ye now to me have ye not rejected me and cast me off in my Son Zion Cause and Kingdom broken your Vowes and Covenants with me Therefore get ye unto the Head of the Last Apostacie and the Great Whore the Head of the First Apostacie whom ye have honored more then me And it seems to me David in the Spirit foretels this very thing x Psa 18.41 They cry'd out but there was none to save unto IEHOVAH but he answered them not A Prophesie to be fulfil'd in the Last Dayes as I take it upon APOSTATE PROFESSORS But howsoever the Lord will thus deal with his enemies for their Crooked ways yet with his Friends and faithful Servants who y Luk. 22.28 continued with him in his temptations Suffered banishment imprisonment spoyling of their goods c. rather then to forsake THE GOOD OLD CAVSE These a Isa 58.9 shall call and the Lord shall answer They shall cry and he shall say Here I am b Isa 49.15 Can a Mother forget her sucking child c. If a child be crying in the streets and multitudes of people should passe by without taking notice of the child yet no sooner doth the mother hear it cry but runs to it kisseth it and carrieth him home in her bosome What though prophane people and proud carnal professors that are at ease regard not the Mourners in Zion but reproach their very sighings and groanings laugh and deride their prayers yet they have a father that hears them and c Psa 57.18 puts all their tears into his bottle and in due time d Psal 30.11 will put off their sackcloth and gird them with gladness Fourthly Because in seeking him 4. Because in seeking him they seek onely his glory they seek only his Glory As a shooter hath one eye close and with the other sees nothing save the mark at which he shoots thus it is now with the Little Remnant their eyes are shut from all Self-respects they look not upon any worldly advantage neither ask any thing of God but what may be to the glory of his Great Name If they ask health Liberty food c. it is that God may be glorified in the right improvement of them if they pray against Apostates and Covenant-breakers it is that e Isa 2.17 the Lord alone may be exalted f Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is so Christ may be glorified I am willing to live and if glorified I am willing to dy it is all one to me whether I live or dy so Jesus Christ by it may have glory Could a father see a child at his foot crying to him with tears that he might know his will and upon no other account then to honor him in the doing of it I say could a father see all this and not be found g 1 Cor. 4.3 For mens judgment we pass it by as a very small thing the Lord knows it is true viz. That there is a Seed of God at this day in bitterness of Soul to know what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God and for no other end then to serve the Lord and not as Turn-coats and Revolters do to serve themselves upon him The Lord was well pleased with Solomon h 1 Kin. 3.10 11. Because he asked not for himself long life nor riches nor the life of his Enemies but understanding to discern judgment that is he asked that thing whereby he might most honor God and the Lord gave him his request and more too Never had Saints more cause then now to beleeve a time of finding is nigh and that all their tears and sighings will be speedily answered seeing they go not unto the Lord as Hypocrites do i. Hos 7.14 For corn and wine and rebel against him but for this end that k Mat. 6.9 the Lords name may be hallowed But this corrupt men cannot do It is not Gods Counsel they desire to know nor his good Cause to carry on but that their own wicked devises might prosper that the Lord would give his glory to them As the rainbow never appears but is in opposition to the Sun so some men if they appear publickly or privately in fasting and prayer they are never in that side of the world where Gods Glory is but quite in opposition to it I have read of a certain Soldier having done great service for the State was bid to ask some reward for himself to which he answered For himself he would ask nothing but had a Petition for the Church and People of God I hope there is such a frame of Spirit among the Mourners every where they have layd aside their own concernments and are seeking the things of Christ and Zion if so then hold up your heads The time of finding is come Fifthly 5. Because Jesus Christ moves and intercedes for them Because the prayers of Saints are not only l Rev. 8.3 4. by Jesus Christ presented to the Father and by him made a sweet sacrifice but likewise he himself moves and intercedes in their behalf Thus Christ in Heaven is as a Favorite at Court takes our Petitions and speaks to them So saith Paul m Rom. 8.34 He is at the right hand of God making intercession for us The Text carries it that he is in Heaven with his stripes wounds blood death setting them before the eyes of his Father and all for Zion Some men after their exaltation and preferment forget their poor Brethren and old friends as Pharaohs Butler forgot Joseph but Christ doth not so we are n Son 8.6 as a seal set upon his heart there he wears us and keeps us not only for an ornament and to shew how pretious he accounts us but that we might be always in his sight and remembrance The incouragement given us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace is o Heb. 4.5 For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted yet
as chaff before the wind How the Lord hath answered them will appear first by some Queries 1. Had Charls Stewart sent an Army to Hispaniola and ten of the Spaniards had kill'd an hundred of them a hundred a thousand Whether people would not have said God's curse was upon that action 2. Had Charls Stewart to satisfie his pride and lust put the Nation to some millions of expence to keep a great Fleet about the Straits and after some yeers a part had return'd bringing nothing back but shame and dishonor to the nation Whether people would not have said This action likewise was l Isa 43.28 given to the curse 3. If Charls Stewart for the business at the Isle of Ree and violating some Priviledges of Parliament c. was fairly dealt with VVhether other men after him should they doe worse might not be call'd to such an account 4. If that Parliament and High Court of Justice which arraigned Charls Stewart deserved much love and prayse of the nation for it What deserve they and are worthy to have that shall betray their publick Trust by giving up to one man the Power Laws Rights and Priviledges of People and Parliament 5. If Charls Stewart in three or four yeers had unnecessarily wasted more then 4. Millions of the Treasure of the nation and in that time had destroyed more then forty thousand mens lives and only for his own pleasure and afterward should have gotten a pack of his own creatures together who in Parliament as he would call it should justifie and confirm what he had done The question is Whether in this case there had been any way or means left to the people whereby they might lawfully and justly have call'd Charls Stewart and his Juncto to an account for the same A * Pro. 28.3 poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food Morsus macri pediculi pessimus the biting of a LEAN LOVSE is worst of all sayth Lyra on the place I have read of a great man being bitten of a weasel and understanding there was no hope of cure nothing griev'd him more at the hour of his death then to think it was a weasels biting had it been said he a LYONS BITING it would not have troubled me half so much 2. What is it that crafty men by their power and policy have lately effected I say since Gods people have prayed aginst them what have they brought forth save wind and vanity m Psa 7.14 Behold he travelleth with painful iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth a lie As a woman after sore and hard travel is delivered of a dead childe so hath been the fruit of their painful travel Their affairs and transactions almost in all places and in all things have been like a sword put into the scabberd the wrong way the more force power craft the worse And no marvel seeing they are going the wrong way viz. against Christ and the cries of his people VVhat is become of that THING which was like Queen Mary's goodly Boy Did not the Priests in their Pulpits describe it and pray for it VVhat is become of the Boyes nurse A nurse many times is more fond of the child she sucks then the mother that bare it 3. It appears the Lord heard their groanings by sending n Judg. 9.23 an evil spirit among the Plotters of iniquity to divide them and that they should seek o 2 Chr. 20.23 to destroy one another VVhen Amnon had his desire upon his sister p 2 Sam. 13.15 he hated her the more So Hypocrites commonly most abhor such men as doe prostrate themselves to their sinful designs when they have served their lusts upon them 4. It shewed Saul was in great extremity having destroyed the witches that he should yet goe to one of them and make use of their devilish art Oh! how desperately straitned are those men and know not what to doe having fought against Malignants and Cavaleers against Epispopal men and Presbyterians shall afterward run to them court them and crouch to them as seeing no way else to be help'd q Judg. 11.7 Did ye not hate me and expel me out of my fathers house and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress Thirdly Prayer hath been made without ceasing that Gods elect every where might forsake all unsanctified places and standings and that their feet might be turned into the pleasant paths of truth and righteousness and in this likewise they have seen the travel of their souls For 1. Very many of the most conscientious people every where have given up their commissions places offices Salaries c. r Heb. 11.25 Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season If a man have a thing in his mouth though he like it well for the sweetness of it yet he will not keep it there but spit it out when he knows it is naught and hurtful so will good men do specially if their hearts be very soft and tender forsake all places offices imployment maintenance c. which they see they cannot hold without scandal and offence though much worldly sweetness doth come in thereby And this is indeed that great lesson of Å¿ Mat. 16.24 Self-denial and t Mat. 18.8 9. Mortification which Christ teacheth us 2. There are some who wanting faith to trust God for a livelihood lie under sad affliction and trouble of spirit about their places and imployments u 2 Kin. 5.18 When my Master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there and he leaneth on my hand and I bow my self in the house of Rimmon the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing as if he should say I do not like my place that I should be so nigh the King when he is in the Temple at his idolatrous worship I question the lawfulness of my presence there but if I do it not I must lose my place and then I shall not live in that credit plenty state pomp which now I do It seems Naaman knew not the Scriptures how x Psa 57.16 a little y Eccl. 4.6 a handful a Pro. 17.1 a dry morsel b Pro. 15.17 a dinner of herbs well gotten and with quietness and peace of conscience and the fear of God is better then great revenues without right and with the trouble of a tormented conscience But Naaman knew not this if he had probably he would not as I doubt too many do c Prov. 28.21 Transgress'd for a piece of bread 3. For many which keep their places and employment though they seem satisfied as to their standing yet the query is Are they satisfied as to their Masters DOINGS d 1 Sam. 15 14. What meaneth then the bleating of the Sheep in mine ears With whom can you converse if they have not lost all former principles
help saith David Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce That the Lord heard us in the late wars and was found c Gen. 22.14 JEHOVAH-JIREH a God seen in the mount We can pray now against all the Hypocritical enemies of his Cause and Kingdom more earnestly d Jam. 1.6 In faith nothing wavering which is greatly to his Glory The bramble would have e Judg. 9.15 all the trees put their trust in his shadow Indeed Tyrants would be trusted though there be neither trust nor Truth in them I have read the story how Dominique dreamt the Church of Rome was falling and that he upheld it with his shoulders Have we never heard the like fable In what sore distress the Church and State were both ready to split had not a Minion Idol been devis'd like Dominique's shoulders to keep them up The Tryers probably will apply this because it is like that Shameful thing for all the world But to proceed Did not David very much honor the Lord by trusting in him when he went forth against Goliah But what caused David by beleeving to doe so he tels you f 1 Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine I know there were many complaints and heart-groans poured out against the King and Bishops for their Tyranny and Idolatry but this I can truly say For twenty years and more in which I suffered under them the Lord did not draw out my heart to so much mourning and sighings as I have done within these three or four years against the GREAT BETRAYERS of the interest of Christ and his people And this I finde as a burning fire shut up in my bones that I cannot hold my peace day nor night Besides Howsoever I am a poor worm and the least in my Father's house yet herein I can give glory to God I do beleeve the Lord that delivered his afflicted people out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear King and Bishops he will deliver them from all PROVD PHILISTIMS that defie the Israel of God yea and that speedily Fifthly 5. Do him more work and better service Times of finding ingage the Lords people to do him more work and better service afterwards If Beasts the larger allowance they have will doe their master the more service Surely then the better Christ is to his children the more they will strive to doe his will in every thing g Psa 116.8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling I will walk on before the Lord in the land of the living That is Seeing I have had a Time of finding I will so improve this great mercy as the Lord shall have much glory and honor by it Methinks it is at this day with some honest hearts as it was with the h Mat. 20.3 4. Laborers which stood idle in the market-place Should they be askt why they are not at work What would they say We are calling upon the Lord for imployment we would willingly be at work for it grieves our very Souls to stand thus idle Now hath not a master more profit that his servants are at work then standing still When the Great TIME OF FINDING comes then will Zions children be at work indeed for now they may be said to be idle comparatively to their work THEN Then some shall be the i Rev. 14.6 Angel To preach the Everlasting Gospel Others the k Rev. 15.1 Angels to pour out the seven last plagues Some l Psa 149.8 to bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron Others m Rev. 18.5 to execute vengeance upon Babylon Come Lord Jesus When the Lord made use of Moses and Aaron to pour out vials full of wrath upon Pharaoh and Egypt and of Elias to destroy the Prophets of Baal and of Ioshua to cast out the Canaanites Was he not in those things very much glorified If so then much more when he shall answer the prayers of his people concerning his Son and Zion and the destruction of Babylon and all Tyrants Which is better and more for the honor of a King that Theeves Murderers and Rebels do spoyl and destroy the good people or to be taken and punished What is it that Saints pray for and desire a Time of finding Truly this That Hypocrites and Apostates n Psa 104 35. be consum'd out of the earth and bloody Tyrants be no more That o Rev. 11.15 all the Kingdoms of the world may be Christs p Eze. 21 27 whose right it is And in order hereunto they are to ready to follow the Lamb in his work wheresoever he shall lead them But howsoever some men by Times of finding are the better yet many are the worse Here Jesus Christ may say r Psa 109.4 For my Love they are my Adversaries That is for the Deliverances Victories Preferments which I gave them I am the more wrong'd by them in my Great Name Cause and Kingdom And truly I think never a generation of men more sinn'd against kindness then some of this generation * Isa 1.2 Hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord speaketh I have nourished and brought up or made great and exalted children but they have revolted from me It is a pitiful fight to see a poor Bird kill'd with the feathers pluckt from her They are not only contented to feather their nest with the interest of Christ and his people but with those feathers i. e. power places Offices and preferment which they have pluckt from it shoot at her and murder her most unworthily * Deut. 32.6 Doe ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is all forgotten What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 CHAP. IIII. Reasons Why there will be a Time of Finding in respect of Gods people Reasons in respect of mourners 1. Of the revilings of the proud First BEcause of the scornings and revilings of the proud as reproaching the Godly for their mourning and tears Had not the Lord been found of Hezekiah he had not been able in a little while to have born Rabshakehs and Sennacheribs blasphemies That which caused Hannah to be in bitterness of Soul before the Lord and no doubt moved the Lord to take pity on her it was the extream Å¿ 1 Sam. 1.6 provoking of her adversary for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up her womb Our Adversaries are fallen upon Rabshakehs work and seek to provoke us by the like scornful reproaches Where is the fruit say they of your tears and cries You may see the Lord cares not for your weeping fasting and praying did he regard them he would have helpt you ere now
of honesty and liberty but you shall hear them bitterly exclaim against some persons for their falshood Covenant-breaking seeking themselves and opposing the work of God yea now and then a discontented houshold-servant will be twitting his Master publickly at his nose for casting off the interest of Christ and his people and complying with the Malignant party What said Nabals servants of him to their Mistress e 1 Sam. 25 17. He is such a son of Belial that a man cannot speak to him Belial signifies one without yoak or lawless as if they should say There is not a man alive worse then our Master he cares not what he says nor what he does nor who he wrongs his will is a Law and ordinarily they who have done him most good as David for example he is most spightful and malicious against and if any man do but speak to him of his covetousness cruelty unthankfulness or seem to cross him in his pride and wilfulness he will stamp and stare and curse like a mad-man or devil and do him what mischief he can Therefore certainly evil is determined against our Master and against all his houshold Reader take notice when thou hearest some SERVANTS to call their Master a son of Belial that is one that will be under no yoke no Law or Government one that is an enemy to good people and cares for none but such as wil be servants to his lusts and will this is a great return of prayer for howsoever some servants have not the grace nor honesty to leave such a Nabal nevertheless speaking so openly against his wickedness as they condemn their own sinful standing so they justifie all other servants which have cast off such a SON OF BELIAL Lastly There is another sort who like their places as ill as their Masters and have not a good word for either onely the old Serpent hath taught them a trick to cozen their own souls which is to keep their places in hope to serve their Country the better if a turn or change should come Mock on we know well enough did not these men love themselves a great deal better then they do their Country they would not support oppression as they do for their base pay hire But an ill-favoured face needs painting Fourthly the Lord hath been earnestly cal'd upon that howsoever the Witnesses should be slain f Rev. 11.9 Rev. 12.17 yet not suffered to be burnt but that a remnant of the womans seed might be preserved to keep up the memory of the work and cause of Christ Now truly I think the Father of Mercies hath not in any one thing more clearly answered the Soul-Groanings of his people then in this For 1. Consider how grievously Gods people have been tried and tempted these three or four years not onely by great poverty and outward wants but by the entisements baits of worldly advantages as riches honor promotion pleasure h Mat. 4.9 all these things will I give thee IF THOU WILT c. A man that should stand before the mouth of a Cannon going off or walk upon the ridge or pinacle of a Tower or sail among most dangerous rocks and sands it would be thought very strange if he should escape all danger Some of Gods people lately have had a more wonderful deliverance if the snares be minded which the Lord hath broken for them i Psa 107.8 O let them confess to Jehovah his mercy and his marvelous works 2. Howsoever the love of many is grown cold and they are turn'd with Demas and with the Dog to the world and their vomit again yet hath the Lord preserv'd a litte flock Rev. 3.4 a few names which have not defiled their garments by partaking with the last Apostacy but through grace l Jam. 1.27 have kept themselves unspotted from the world When Gideons Army of 32000 came to be 300. then indeed it was excellent and glorious Judg. 7.7 and meet for the Lord to work Israels deliverance by it Though the followers of Christ are very few in number to the worshippers of the Beast yet this I may say as the prophet saith of the Figs they are n Jer. 24.2 very good the Lord having by their many temptations trials purified them unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works CHAP. VIII FIftly It is A Time of Finding when there is no staggering at the Promise But the things asked are by Faith obtained A Time of Finding when the things asked are seen and received by Faith So certain as if they were already in our own hands Thus o Sam. 1.18 Hannah was sure of the Child as if he had been in her armes So p Exod. 14 13 14. Moses at the Red Sea saw Pharoah and his hoste drown'd before ever they went into the water In dividing the Land of Canaan not onely did Joshua and the people by lot lay out the Inheritance of every Tribe in the Countreys which they had conquered But likewise all other parts of the Land which at present they possessed not And this they did believing what was not yet in their hands it should be theirs so sure as the parts and places already taken No lesse confident and certain are Saints now i. e. as some of the Canaanites are cast out Moncks Fryers Arch-Bishops Bishops So q Lev. 18.28 the Land ere long shall spue out the rest of r Dan. 7.27 them And it shall be given to the Saints of the most high Though the Israelites after they came out of Egypt had a stop for forty years in the wilderness yet God gave them the peaceable possession of Canaan according to his promise So Jerusalem and the Temple were built Howsoever thorough the malice of the Enemy there was some stop put to the worke awhile True it is the worke of God THE GOOD OLD CAVSE hath met with A TROVBLER an ACHAN for through the falshood and hypocrisie of some men it hath been killed and layen in the street like the dead bodies of the Witnesses howsoever not suffered to be put in graves But what of all this so mercifully hath the Lord answered the Cries and Tears of this people as by faith they see it risen and like a Conquerour standing on its feet to the Terror Shame and Ruin of the Adversaries Quest But wherefore hath the Lord suffered his work to be stopped and to lie as it were under a death Ans Howsoever neither men nor Devils could have stopped it had he pleased not to have had it so Yet he would have it stopp'd a while for these Reasons 1. To dismisse from the worke some Regiments of prophane Esau's and worldly Demasses who followed it not for love but loaves Such Hypocrites and rotten hearts the Lord could not endure to see in his work and therefore brought his Army out of the Field to disband them and to Å¿ Ps 125.5 lead them forth with the